Quarterly Technical Report: Access to Justice Activity

The project aims to improve access to justice in Colombia, particularly in the Consolidation Zones (CZs). The AJA is in full execution stage, with six regional offices fully functional by the end of Year One. Component One, Justice Houses (JHs) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), has nearly completed an assessment of the functioning and sustainability of the 25 targeted JHs located in or near the AJA's targeted municipalities in the CZs. The project has also begun activities to assist these JHs, including supporting six mobile JHs in Bajo Cauca and Tolima, which provided services to over 850 people in rural areas who have limited access to the state justice system. A new JH in Florencia, Caquetá, was furnished and equipped by the AJA and inaugurated on March 5. The AJA has also initiated processes to train and certify equity conciliators (ECs) through its strategic partner, the National University School of Community Justice (NUSCJ). The AJA continued its support for the implementation of the web-based case track system in the 25-targeted JHs. By the end of this reporting period, 15 of the 25 JHs had the system installed and were actively using it. This work represents a drawdown of USAID support of JHs. The AJA designed an exit strategy for concluding USAID support to the National Program for Justice Houses (NPJH), given that the program is now largely sustainable. All JH support is expected to end by July 31, 2015. In Component Two, Gender, AJA subcontractor Corporación Excelencia en la Justicia (CEJ) prepared and presented a report on strategic themes for the protection of women's rights as part of the Project's effort to better integrate the gender perspective in Colombian jurisprudence. The AJA continued its efforts to advance the work of the National Gender Commission (NGC) and its Sectional Gender Committees (SGCs), including supporting its International Women's Day celebrations. Component Three, Justice Reform, has made significant progress in the reporting period. The AJA has supported the implementation of the Criminal Accusatory System (SPA) in the 25-targeted municipalities, which has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of cases pending in the courts. The AJA has also provided technical assistance to the Colombian Attorney General's Office (AGO) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the SPA. The AJA has also made significant progress in its communications and social outreach strategy. The project has established a strong presence on social media, with over 1,000 followers on Twitter and over 500 followers on Facebook. The AJA has also produced a series of videos and infographics to raise awareness about the project's activities and achievements. Overall, the AJA has made significant progress in its first year of implementation, with all three technical components producing significant results. The project is on track to meet its contractual obligations and is expected to continue making a positive impact on access to justice in Colombia.